Velocipede



2. Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. KIBBE.

VELOGIPBDB.

No. 386,990. Patented July 31, 1888.

INVBNTOR WITNESSBS ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. KIBBB.

VBLOGIPBDE.

No. 386,990. Jy Patented July 31, 1888.

WITNESSBS INVENTOR W K @52M Jam, E ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE KlBBE, OF AMSTERDAM, NEV YORK.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,990, dated July 31,1888.

Application filed December 13, 1887. Serial No. 257,781.

To all whom t may concern:

Be itknoivn that I, GEORGE KIBBE, 0f Alnsterdam, in the county ofMontgomery and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Velocipedes, of which the following is a full,clear,andexact description.

The object of this invention is to render the propulsion ofvelocipcdeseasierand their Inovexnent steadier, to provide for a convenientvariation of the effective driving force in accordance with theresistance to be overcome, and to strengthen and otherwise improve thesteering device.

'I he invention consists of a novel form of pedal-levers and drivingmechanism operated thereby, and of a peculiar construction andarrangement of the steering-head and crossbar,substantially ashereinafter described,aud distinctly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, 1n which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure lis a side elevation of a bicycle embodying the various featuresof my improvement. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 1s atransverse sectional elevation on the hue x x,Fig. 4, of the improveddriving mechanism of the same. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional v iew of thesaid driving mechanism on the h ne g/ y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view snowing one of the improved pedal-levers ofthe machine.Fig. 6 is a rear view of the steering-head ofthe machine. Fig. 7 is aside sectional elevation of the said steering-head. Flg. S is a planview of a tricycle provided with my improved d riviliggear.

Referring to Figs. l to 7, the drive-wheel A, backbone B, saddle C,steeringbar D, brake E, and forked standard F, having the bearings forthe drive-axle G, may be ofthe ordinary or any approved description.

On each end of the axle G is fixed a ratchet- Wheel, H, and the lowerend of each branch of the forked standard F is provided with arearward-projecting lug carrying a pin, F2, to which is pivoted a hollowvertically-rocking ease, I, at its rear edge.

The inner vertical side wall, l', of the case Works between theratchet-whecl H and the standard, and has a segmental slot, Il, to re-(No model.)

ceive the axle, said slot being formed on a curve, of which the pin F2is the center.

The outer vertical \vall,l:",of the case covers the ratchet-Wheel andtheend ofthe aXlc,and the forward Wall or rim, I", is curved concentricallywith the slot I2.

To the pin F2 within the case I is also pivoted a plate,J, of such sizeas to have a slight vertical play therein, and to the inner face of theplate J are pivoted in a segmental row, also concentric with the slotI2, a series of-in the present ease three-pawls, K, which are pormallyheld out of the way of the ratchetwheel H when the plateJ is rockedbysprings, which press them against fixed stops K on the plate.

The pawls K have tails K, which project into corresponding slots, F, inthe rim of the case l, so that when the case is swung downward the tailsof the pawls are pressed downward by the shoulders at the upper ends ofthe slots l, thereby causing the pawls successively to engage theratChetWheel and revolve the drive axle and wheel evenly and without anysuddcujerks.

The forward rim of the Case I has a lug connected by a lilik, L, with arocking pedal-lever, M, which is pivotcd to a bracket-arm, M, fixedtothe corresponding branch of the standard.

The two pedallevers M, on opposite sides ofthe machine, are respectivelyconnected by rods N with the ends of a transverse lever orwalking-beam,77 O, pivoted at its center to the frame of the machineabove the drivcwheel, so that the pedal-levcrs will work al` tcrnatelyin the usual manuel'.

The rear end of each pedal-lever M is provided with a vertical curve orincline, M', at both the head and foot of which are pedals M2 M3, whichare at different distances from the front of the lever and can be usedeither at Will, according as a greater or less force is rcquired todrive the vehicle.

The head N on the upper end of the standard F is formed with atransverse groove or socket, O', extending across its back, in which isreceived the central portion of the one-piece handle-bar D, and aclamppiece, Q, having a transverse groove or socket, Q', in its face andformed with forward-projecting screiv-bolts R on either end, is set overthe back of the IOO handle-bar against the head and its bolts R passedthrough apertures in the head and drawn tight by means of nuts S, so asto bind the handle-bar firmly to the head.

In the tricycle shown in Fig. 8 the pedallevers M and cases I,containing the driving mechanism, are arranged,with respect to the axleG', substantially as before described; but the cases are pivoted to rockon a transverse pivotrod, T, mounted at the ends in brackets T', whichare fixed on abrace, T3, on the frame of the machine. In some cases,however, in applying the hereindescribed improved driving mechanism to atricycle, the driving-axle may be in two sections, having each aratchet- Wheel and carrying loose sleeves rigidly connected by a singlepawlcarrying case. This case would then be rocked by the pedallevers ontheaxle as acenter, andthe pawls, of which there would be one or one setfor each ratchetwheel, would alternately engage their respective wheels,so as to drive the machine with a uniform motion.

A hand-wheel may be applied, if desired, to

the inside of the right-hand driving-wheel of` the tricycle for startingthe machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, ism 1. In a velocipede, the combination, witha drive-axle and its bearing, of a ratchet-Wheel on the axle, a rockingcase pivoted to the frame eccentrically to the axle, a pawl carriedthereby and arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel, a pedal-lever, andconnections for operating the rocking case thereby, substantially asdescribed.

' 2. In a velocipede, the combination, with a drive-axle and itsbearing, of a ratchetwheel on the axle, a rocking case pivoted to theframe eccentrically to the axle, a pivotal plate on the axle of andadapted to play within the case, and tailed pawls pivoted to said plate,the case having shoulders arranged to bear upon the tails of the pawlsand throw the same into enlgagenuent with the ratclietwheel on the axle,

substantially as described.

3. In a velocipede, the combination, with a drive-axle and its bearing,of a ratchet-wheel on the axle, a rocking case pivoted eccentrically tothe axle, a series of pivotal pawls carried by the case and arranged ina segmental row having the pivot ofthe case as the center, apedal-lever, and connections for operating the rocking case thereby,substantially as described.

4. A pedal-lever having a vertical curve or incline at its rear end andlaterally-projecting pedals at both the head and the foot of said curveor incline at different distances from the pivotal point of the lever,as and for the purpose specified.

5. 'Ihe combinatiomwith the frame, the axle, the ratchets thereon, thetransverse walkingbeam O,the treadle-levers pivoted to the frame, androds NN, pivoted to the ends of the said beam and to the treadle-levers,of the pins F2, secured to the opposite sides of the frame in rear ofthe axle, the case I, mounted to rock on the said pins and having sideslots, I2, to receive the axle and peripheral slots I5, the platesmounted on the pins F2, to rock within the case I, and provided withsegmental series of spring-pawls having tails projecting into the slots15, and the links L, connecting the rocking cases with thetreadlelevers, substantially as set forth.

6. In a velocpede, the coinbinatiomwith the steering-head N, having atransverse groove, O', extending across the vertical face of its back,and two apertures extending through it at opposite sides of a centralvertical line, of the clamp Q, having a groove on its inner face toregister with groove O', and two integral bolts projecting from oneedge, and extending through the said apertures and provided with nuts,the opposite edge of the clamp resting against the back or face of saidhead, and the handle-bar held in place by said clamp, substantially asset forth.

GEORGE KIBBE.

VVitnesSes:

RICHARD PECK, SAMUEL T. LEEsoN.

